Hamilton Southeastern bus driver faces termination after testing positive for alcohol

FISHERS, Ind. (WISH) — A school bus driver was removed from her duties after the district said she tested positive for alcohol in her system.

It happened Thursday morning after the bus driver completed her routes in the Hamilton Southeastern School District.

The school district did its own investigation after someone reported that bus driver may have been under the influence while picking up students.

The driver is now facing possible termination. 24-Hour News 8 learned she’s been with the district since 1997.

Parents received an alert from the school district about an investigation involving one of the bus drivers.

“Obviously it was surprise, a little bit of shock. You don’t want to hear about something like that happening,” said Angie Jaynes, a parent of children in Hamilton Southeastern Schools.

Jaynes has two children who go to Fall Creek Junior High. She said they have a different bus driver.

“You kind of never know what’s going to happen, but it is a little shocking,” she said.

A spokesperson for the district told 24-Hour News 8 that someone brought it to their attention that the driver of bus no. 239 may have been under the influence of a controlled substance.

The driver had already completed her routes by picking up and dropping off students at Hamilton Southeastern High School, Fall Creek Junior High and Brooks School Elementary when the district took her in for drug and alcohol testing.

“HSE always does a fabulous job of handling any sorts of situation that are less than ideal so this is an example of that,” said Jaynes.

The spokesperson said the school bus driver tested positive for alcohol, so they contacted police.

“You know it’s a great school district they handle everything really well but obviously today’s news was a bit of a concerned,” said Jaynes.

Fishers police said they are still in the early stages of the investigation. The bus driver has not been arrested.

Hamilton Southeastern Schools says their 300 bus drivers are required to submit to random drug tests, as well as training and other activities in compliance with INDOT and the Indiana Department of Education.

Below is the full text of the letter sent to parents:

This morning, we received information that the driver of bus #239 that drives routes to Hamilton Southeastern High School, Fall Creek Junior High School, and Brooks School Elementary may have been under the influence of a controlled substance. She was taken in for drug and alcohol testing per our district policy. The Fishers Police Department was contacted after the driver tested positive for alcohol. We are cooperating with their investigation. We do not tolerate any behavior that compromises the safety of our students. The driver has been removed from duty pending formal termination.”